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Thursday, 22 February 2018

looking into a bottomless pit

I am so grumpy these days, it can't be good for me. I can feel a big lump of grumpiness in my tummy and it is not pleasant. Everything and everybody makes me cross. I even get cross in my dreams. If I was a cartoon figure, I would be walking around with a big grey cloud over my head.

Our neighbours make me cross. They must be deaf because the sound of their telly is always so loud that it is impossible to sit quietly in my own living room.

I get cross about big cars. There is just no need for a truck sized car in a city. The parking bays are not big enough and the inconsiderate owners often park across two bays, or worse, in a disabled bay. This really gets my blood boiling.

Traffic in general makes me very cross. There is a survival of the fittest attitude on the roads and as a cyclist, I am earmarked to be a casualty at some point in the future.

Personalised number plates make me cross. There is one in our street that reads "enema". I am sure it not intentional but that's how I interpret it. I don't know why these number plates make me cross, they are not particularly offensive on the grand scheme of things.

I have a friend whose life is much harder than everyone else's. Except that is is not, not really, but everything is just such a drama. It is tiresome.

Litter makes me most cross of all. There is so much litter here and I am tired of asking kids, old ladies and anyone else politely to pick theirs up. I used to be to timid to do that, saying instead "I think you have lost something". Until one day an old wrinkly bent over nana said "Och no hen, thats just rubbish". Not long ago, I witnessed a distinguished looking woman with a big black bin bag walking across the road, drop it over the bridge wall onto the disused railway track next to the canal. Really! It would have been less effort to take the bag to the bins in the back lane. She was quick as a weasel and I didn't manage to catch up with her.

My children make me cross. Particularly when one tells me at 8:30 in the morning hat they need a brown outfit for a show at school right now. I sometimes feel like dancing when they finally go to bed.

It makes me really cross that I will have to pay money and complete a complicated form to be allowed to stay in this country, after 18 years of enjoying European Freedom of Movement. My employer organises information sessions for European citizens led by a law firm specialising in immigration law. It was suggested that we should have kept a "shoebox" into which we deposit all sorts of documents about our work and travel on a monthly basis. My clairvoyant younger self should have obviously known that the British people would be so thick as to reject the EU at one point in my future. We were informed that we should apply for the indefinite right to stay now. The lawyer also said that we would then need to apply for the new settled status proposed for after Brexit. He mentioned a fast track application process for those who have already applied for an indefinite right to stay but admitted that he didn't have a clue what that would look like. He was also unsure about the preparedness of the Home Office come next year.... No doubt you will have seen in the news that many Europeans had their applications rejected on the grounds of an incorrectly completed form. The right to appeal seems minimal. Well, apparently the Home Office is now taking a more pragmatic approach with scrutinising the forms. I find that too vague to take the risk. What if the chap scrutinising my own form is in a foul mood (it happens to the best of us) and doesn't feel particularly pragmatic? What does a "more pragmatic approach" mean anyway? Shaking my head in disbelief.

That's just the small stuff. I think what is actually happening is that the world around me is falling apart, humanity is becoming less and less humane and I feel like I am falling in a bottomless pit.

Alas, the world keeps on spinning and I better get on with my work. Thanks for bearing with me. I am sure I'll be less cross shortly.

The photos of Jack are meant to sweeten up this gloomy post :-) I have chosen them specially for Lee at Love Cornwall and Crochet, who loves to see Jack. Jack gets cross about neighbourhood foxes but is otherwise a sweet natured.

30 comments:

Oh dear! I’m sorry to say but half of your post had me in fits of giggles, the other half wanting to cry with you because of the stupidity of mankind. At least you’ve written it down and as they say a trouble shared hopefully is a trouble halved. What can I say to brighten your day I wonder. At least you are a lovely human being who cares vehemently for this world. That I’m sure you are a marvellous mother who your kids love to bits. And as for Jack give him a very big hug from me. He looks so much like my childhood Jack Russel. He was called Happy. Wishing you good thoughts and sending lots of cyber hugs. B xx

As with Coastal Ripples, I too giggled at this post. You could have written it for me, as we have the same gripes about the world and humanity. I particularly loathe bureaucracy, with all it's unnecessary red tape but feel sure that when Brexit is finally established, you will still be here, safe and sound. Chin up xx

We saw a personalised number plate last week that appeared to spell moron. I’m sure it can’t have but it had me in fits. Why would you? I mean, really? It sounds like you need a holiday, or some down time. One crumb of comfort I can offer is that humanity isn’t (statistically) getting worse: life is safer and less violent now that at any time previously recorded. M read a fascinating book on the subject. That people’s perceptions don’t fall in line with this is perhaps the more interesting part. Hope you feel better soon.

I think your grumpiness is justified. All of those things are annoying, and the Brexit thing must be a huge cloud always hanging over you. But...have you been seeing the amazing students in Florida and all over the US standing up to our legislators? Of course the current legislators are still crap, and will continue to take money from the NRA, and the horrible person is still in the White House, BUT these students are the future, and they give me so much hope.

I share a lot of your grumpiness, loud people, vanity plates, cars that look like trucks, people who litter. I'm feeling very grumpy with my SIL, she knows the health battle I'm having and wants all the gory details and I'm just not up to that.I'll bet your adorable dog doesn't make you grumpy, I laughed at his little tail going a mile a minute.

Your mood is reflected here as well. Honestly, I thought it was just me. I’m not having to go through filling out papers to stay in my country but plenty around me. Kick out the immigrants but keep the assault guns. The president and our congress are dithering idiots. I thought the worse thing I’d have to worry about when sending my kids off to school would be lice or a poor grade. Now it’s who might walk in and start shooting. It all hurts. I wish I had a solution, I don’t. I just keep trying. The pup pictures are nice :)

A virtual ((hug)) from one of the British people who couldn't believe her compatriots were so stupid as to vote for Brexit. We found out as we sat in an airport awaiting a flight to Europe, next to us were a young couple who it transpired, both had jobs that were based on European funding - you could see the pain and uncertainty in their faces as they rapidly replanned their careers and futures. I am heart broken by the stupidity, short sightedness and lack of understanding in how the global economy works that this country demonstrates - don't even get me started on humanity and it's attitude to the planet it inhabits! Be kind to yourself, be a little selfish and take some me time and go and have a quiet chat with your neighbours about the thinness of the walls. xx

Christina my first thought reading through your woes was lack of sunshine and then I came to the paragraph freedom of movement, where I became lost for words. I am praying that common sense will prevail.

Hi there I always read your blog but this is the first time I have commented. I am amazed by how much you do, 4 children, a demanding job, house renovations, all that crafting and all that caring! It is all hard work and you are entitled to feel grumpy- if you did not you would truly put the rest of us to shame! I am disgusted with the Brexit vote and can't get over it 18 months later. We have shown the world how narrow minded we are as a nation. I too have 4 children (aged 27 to 20) and I constantly fear for their collective future in this isolated little country we will become. I am already disgusted at the sight of our politicians having to cosy up to some of the world's least pleasant people in order to get business...I could go on, but luckily for you, I am off to yoga where I shall seek to find some inner calm...

I think it's great that you got all of this off your chest! I had a smile on my face while reading your post because I can totally relate to it all. But hang in there and do what I do.. count your blessings.. it's sure to make you feel better. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Brexit is truly rubbish, if only I had seen it coming I would have given birth to my children in NI, giving them EU links going forward. Hindsight is 20/20February in Scotland is pants but Spring will come.But I won't show you a picture of the car they gave us when we arrived in the states it would make you very cross as it is more the size of a bus than a car!

It must be that time of year. I’m sure my blood pressure rises with crossness. I drove to a friends house in Wales for lunch last week and the road verges were strewn with litter where there should be wild daffodils in a few weeks. I keep wanting to say it never used to be like this but that makes me seem so old.In a few weeks the sun will start to feel warmer and moods always lighten.

I'm snappy with everyone here all the time, Christina. My biggest gripe is that no one except me puts anything away. My husband is one of the offenders with a truck like car I won't drive and a personalised number plate which at least doesn't spell Moron but is a reference to a Seventies cartoon combined with his initials. Total waste of money - another thing that irritates me. I am so sorry you are having all this hassle because of Brexit. I think the country will live to regret this foolish decision.

I knew I liked you for a reason : ) Real people get cross and grumpy and I totally get the feeling like I'm a cartoon character with a grey cloud over my head at times... it's so nice to be able to have the right people to share the grumpy feelings with because bottled up inside is worse. You got Brexit I got Trump, we both lose. I think that's why you and I like to read post-apocalyptic fiction... makes our own world seem slightly less so bad off at least for now. Pour yourself a nice drink of whatever makes you happy and do something you like for at least 30 minutes... wish I could join you! Hang in there.

Oh, the things that really get our goat! I'm sure those you've highlighted get the blood boiling for most of us. I'd have to add drivers who don't use indicators (come on, people, give us a clue), supermarket shoppers who block the aisles whilst they peruse the shelves (they're tins of beans, just pick one) and signs with the apostrophe in the wrong place (doesn't everyone know a puppy dies every time this happens?). Rant over. Have a great weekend.

Well I think we all have our degrees of anger throughout the day, especially if we live in close proximity to others. Terrible drivers is a common topic in our house, and then just last week I accidentally cut someone off and got honked at for a good long blast. I was horrified because I honestly didn't see the guy. Made me humble my opinion of other drivers (for a few days!). The Brexit mess would definitely rattle me. What a terrible way to deal with the unknown. All I can offer is a virtual hug and maybe hopes of spring time weather will improve everyone's tolerance. I dislike being in a bad mood and alleviate it with walks, tea and cleaning house (does this sound weird?). I hope you enjoy your weekend. Jack is a sweetheart and you have just reminded me to get my own Cody pup out for a walk today. It's warming up here and is only -1C as I write this ... yay!!Wendy xox

I am glad you were cross because at first I thought the photos of Jack meant that he had died. Hopefully he cheers your days along. The world is a tough place right now especially if you have larger EU worries than most of us. Just hang in there, get your head down and sew straight lines. Sending you heaps of positive thoughts. Jo xxxxxx

I get grumpy about all of these things too :( There's just so much to be grumpy about isn't there?! Sometimes it all gets too much but we just have to get by most of the time and focus on the good bits. Hope you've found a better view by now than the bottomless pit and are enjoying the weekend.

Oh dear Christina, I do hope that sharing all this has helped you feel a bit better, although I can see why it would make you feel grumpy. Especially the whole EU thing (not all British people voted out... I can't believe the stupidity of those who did). And yes I have a friend like that for whom everything is absolutely awful... except it is not. Sending cheerful vibes your way xx

I just love you, can I say that again, I just love you. A bit of reality here and that is what we all need. If it helps I am cross too. Cross at puppies getting into everything, Little Buddy not getting the potty training thing although he should be, traffic, family members, not getting time with yarn, and apparently run on sentences!

I share your grumpiness at times Christina. I live in a cul-de-sac in which most of the drivers seem to have a penchant for personalised number plates. My next door neighbour's twenty-something year old son has what looks like ASBO on his. He's a very nice guy so I don't know what possessed him, but it annoys me every time I see it. As for Brexit please know, as a Brit who did not vote for it, I am horrified by what has happened and the whole ugly situation makes me want to live elsewhere. I hope your little and big niggles improve with time. Take care x

I realize that you wrote this ten or twelve days ago and I hope things in general have improved. Although not much Can be done about Brexit, shite drivers, others littering and those indecipherable license plates.

Some of your commenters just cracked me up; you’ve a good group of readers. Find some time to play with yarn-it truly helps to calm us down. Did ya see that ski coach at the Olympics knitting at the start gate? He understands brain waves !~!

You have gotta smile and feel all warm and happy at this post - which could end up being your best post ever - judging by the way I have just had to take a bus to the end of your comments. I am sooooo glad that I didn't drive here with in my little personalised Wren numbered plated car! Haha Nooo, I don't have have a number plate like this but now you've got me thinking... You see I can totally sympathise with grumpiness and the total antidote to it, is to find others more grumpy than yourself, hence you must keep up with your grumpy friend whose life is not really as bad as she thinks or indeed by getting your own number plate which says GR1MPY73 on it!Let me tell you a little story in 1994 this little Wren was pregnant and moving to Brussels. She was not brave enough to have her baby in Belgium, away from family and friends and moved there when the baby was 10 days old. Old son was born in Brussels in later years. I am pretty sure we Brits will forever rue the day we voted to leave the EU but I will be forever grumpy if my decision means that my daughter can't have an EU passport. Every Mum knows the best decision any family ever makes is to get a dog, they are always totally happy to see you what ever mood you are in!Right I've kept going long enough here in the hope that you are you seeing signs of a cheery Spring?Have a great week!Wren x

About Me

Hello! Thanks for stopping by, I hope you like it here.
I live in Scotland with my long suffering husband, 4 kids, two cats and a dog. Our life is slightly mad but colourful in many ways. Here I share memorable moments, and sometimes the not so memorable ones, too.